Caliphate and Imamate

"One of the most enduring sources of conflict among Muslims is the question of power and authority after the Prophet Muòhammad. This anthology of classical Arabic texts, presented in a new English translation, offers a comprehensive overview of the early history of the caliphate and medieval Muslim scholarly discussions on the subject. Composed between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, these texts succinctly present competing views on the prerequisites of legitimate leadership and authority in the Islamic tradition"--